NHRC rescues 101 bonded labourers in Bihar

The NHRC on Tuesday said it has rescued 101 bonded labourers from Madhubani in Bihar, after an NGO complained they were being made to work forcefully on agricultural lands and not being paid minimum wages.

The 101 labourers from 38 families were Musahars, a community classified as Scheduled Caste.

The rescue operation was carried out following a complaint received from an NGO in December 2014.

The labourers have been provided relief under various social welfare schemes including some land towards their rehabilitation, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said.

Two criminal cases have been registered against 18 employers and the outstanding wages will be recovered from them.

"All the children have been admitted to schools while 26 girls will benefit from the chief minister's security scheme. The families have also been given benefits under the Indira Awas Yojana, Indira Gandhi national old age pension scheme and disability pension."

A notice has been issued to the secretary of the labour and employment ministry, principal secretary of the labour department, as well as the labour commissioner of Patna, asking them to release funds for the rescued people.

Meanwhile, a notice has also been sent to the Madhubani district magistrate, who has been asked to submit a report on steps taken for the rehabilitation of the victims and status of all the pending cases within six weeks.